If allowed to wander the house freely, a puppy may feel overwhelmed and confused by all the new scents and sounds.
Keep in mind that puppies will chew anything, electrical cables are no exception. Make sure they are out of your puppy’s reach. Place all hazardous substances out of your puppy’s reach. This includes cleaning products, medications, vitamins, plants, cat litter boxes, tobacco products, garbage, and anything else that your puppy may try to eat. [1] X Research source
The idea of crate training is to teach the puppy that the crate is his safe place, kind of like a wild dog’s den. Keep in mind that the crate should never be used as a punishment or a prison. It should be a place where the dog goes willingly for a time-out and where you know he is safe when you aren’t with him. [3] X Research source Wire crates are ideal because the dog can see everything around him. This helps him to feel more secure.
Make sure your puppy is raised slightly off the ground in his bed, so he avoids draughts at floor level.
You can also use newspaper but it is slightly less absorbent, so there is a greater chance that you will end up with some urine on the floor. It is also a good idea to get some disposable gloves, a disposable kitchen towel, and some disinfectant spray (enzymatic - not ammonia or bleach based) for cleaning up messes. [5] X Expert Source David LevinProfessional Dog Walker & Trainer Expert Interview. 19 December 2019. [6] X Research source Some dog trainers also recommend getting a timer, and setting it to go off every half hour. Then, every time the timer goes off, take your puppy out for a toilet break.
Puppies require more frequent feedings than adult dogs. That means that you will have to feed your puppy three meals per day until he reaches 18 weeks. Then you can switch to two meals per day. [8] X Research source Provide treats for your puppy as well. Use treats to reinforce your puppy’s good behavior. [9] X Expert Source David LevinProfessional Dog Walker & Trainer Expert Interview. 19 December 2019. Doing so will also improve your bond with your new puppy. [10] X Research source Be consistent with the type of food you feed your puppy. Changing his food overnight can cause severe gastric distress. If you must change him to a new brand, do so gradually. Add about 1/3 of the new food to the old food and increase the amount over the course of a week until you are feeding him only the new food. [11] X Research source Keep in mind it is quite difficult to feed a balanced homemade diet to a growing puppy. The balance of calcium and phosphate needs to be exactly right in order to provide for growing bones, and this is difficult for even expert nutritionists to achieve. Remember, wild dogs don’t live nearly as long as our pets.
Make sure that your puppy always has access to fresh, clean water. Keep the bowl filled and change his water out every day.
Select toys or chews that are suitable for unsupervised access, such as a KONG toy. These toys are designed to be filled with treats to keep your puppy entertained and give him a chewing outlet. [13] X Research source Make sure the toy is large enough that it can’t be swallowed whole. If you are trying to decide between two toys, buy the larger one. [14] X Research source
For example, smaller dog’s will require a lightweight leash, while a large dog may require a harness and heavyweight leash. Get a retractable leash for walking and 2–4 foot (0. 6–1. 2 m) leash for training.
Teach your puppy to enjoy being brushed and groomed from day one. Doing so will help you to avoid problems when the dog is an adult.
Start getting your puppy used to having your fingers in his mouth by putting some chicken broth or peanut butter on one of your fingers and letting him lick it off. Do this a few times and try to rub a finger on his teeth and gums as you do so. After your puppy gets used to your fingers, start introducing the toothbrush. Try to brush your puppy’s teeth once every day for a couple of minutes.
Try to think of yourself as a more mature member of the family who will guide your puppy (a new member) to be well-behaved and offer gentle correction whenever he steps out of line.
Ignore your puppy if he displays bad behavior and give him lots of praise if he displays good behavior. [20] X Expert Source David LevinProfessional Dog Walker & Trainer Expert Interview. 19 December 2019. Reward your puppy with treats and praise when he obeys a command or does something good, like going potty outside. [21] X Research source Make sure that you set firm rules and apply them in a consistent way.
Check with your local pet store, groomer, or veterinarian to find out about puppy training classes in your area.
